2Pac

Male vocal

Yo appreciate

When I was a young

me and my Mama

had beef

seventeen years old

kicked out on the street

Though back at the time

I never thought I'd see

her face ain't a woman

alive that could take

my Mama's place

Suspended from school

and scared to go home

I was a fool

with the big boys

breakin' all the rules

Shed tears with

my baby sister

over the years

we were poor

and lonely little kids

And even though

we had different daddys

the same drama when

things went wrong

we'd blame Mama

I reminice on the stress

I caused it was hell

huggin' on my Mama

from a jail cell

Who's breaking

elementary?

heeey

I see the penitentiary

one day

Runnin' from the police

that's right

Mama catch me

put a whoopin'

to my backside

And even as a

crack free Mama

you always were

the black Queen Mama

I finally understand

for a woman

it ain't easy

tryna raise a man

You always were

committed

A poor single mother

on welfare

tell me how ya did it

there's no way

I could pay you back

But the plan is

to show you

that I understand

you're appreciated

lady

Don't you know

I love you sweet lady

Place no-one above ya

sweet lady

Don't you know

I love ya

Now ain't nobody

tell us it was fair

no love from my Daddy

'cause the coward

wasn't there

He passed away

and I didn't cry

cause my anger

wouldn't let me feel

for a stranger

They say I'm wrong

and I'm heartless

but all along

I was lookin' for

a father he was gone

I hang around

with the thugs and even

though they sold drugs

they showed a young

brother love

I moved out and started

really hangin'

I needed money

of my own

so I started slangin'

I ain't guilty 'cause

even though I sell rocks

it feels good

puttin'money

in your mailbox

I love payin' rent

when the rents due

I hope ya got the

diamond necklace

that I sent to you

'Cause when I was low

you were there for me

and never left me

on my own 'cause

you cared for me

And I could see you

comin' home

after work late

you were in the kitchen

tryna fix us a hot plate

Just workin' with the

scraps you were given

and Mama made miracles

every Thanksgiving

But now the world

got rough you're alone

you're tryna raise two

bad kids on your own

And there's no way

that I could

pay you back

But the plan is

to show you

that I understand

you're appreciated

lady

Don't you know

I love you sweet lady

There's no-one

above you

sweet lady

Don't you know

I love ya

Pass the liquor

while I reminsce

'cause during the drama

I can always depend

on my Mama

And when it seems

like I'm hopeless

you say the words

that will get me back

in focus

When I was sick

as a little kid

to keep me happy

there's no limit

to the things you did

And all my

childhood memories

are full of all

the things that

you did for me

And even though

I act crazy

I gotta thank the Lord

that you made me

There are no words

that can express

how I feel

you never kept a secret

always stayed real

And I appreciate

how you raised me

and all the extra love

that you gave me

I wish I could take

the pain away

if you could make it

through the night

there's a brighter day

Everything will be alright

if you hold on

it's a struggle every day

you gotta roll on

And there's no way

that I could

pay you back

But the plan is

to show you that

I understand

you are appreciated

lady

Don't you know

I love you sweet lady

Place no-one above ya

sweet lady

Don't you know

I love ya

sweet lady

La ...dy

La ...dy

La ...dy

La ...dy